Four Albania players were said to be injured after Euro 2016 qualifier was
abandoned following mass brawl

Albania captain Lorik Cana said he and his team-mates were hit by objects thrown from the stands and "physically attacked" by security staff during their match in Serbia.

The Euro 2016 qualifier was abandoned in the first half after a mass brawl broke out following a drone flying over the stadium carrying a pro-Albanian flag.

English referee Martin Atkinson cut short proceedings in the 41st minute when Serbia defender Stefan Mitrovic managed to grab the banner and Albania players tried to protect it. Several Serbian fans invaded the pitch and clashed with Albania players.

Albanian fans had been warned against attending the game between the two Balkan rival nations that have had turbulent relations - mainly over the former ethnic Albanian-dominated Serbian province of Kosovo that declared independence in 2008.

Four Albania players, however, were said to be injured in the scuffles which broke out.

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Albanian captain Cana told Albanian television: "I saw my players being attacked and hit even inside the tunnel, and even by the stewards. We were not in the right psychological or physical state to continue playing."

Serbia captain and Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic said: "We wanted to continue the match, but Albanian players said they were not psychologically ready."

Both Serbian and Albanian fans have a long history of violence and racial abuse. In October 2010, the Italy-Serbia European Championship qualifier was disrupted in Genoa by violent Serbia fans. Uefa eventually awarded Italy a 3-0 win.

On Tuesday, the Albanian anthem was loudly jeered by Serbian fans and derogatory chanting was heard throughout the first half. Serbian supporters also threw flares at the pitch.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama congratulated Albanian players for their courage before the match was abandoned and added that he was "sorry for the neighbors who left a bad worldwide image with the ugly show."

After the match, Albanian Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri sent a letter to his Serbian counterpart expressing concerns for the security of the Albania players, team staff, journalists and a few fans.

The minister asked for "urgent steps to guarantee the security of all Albanian citizens present in the stadium."